Elyria police to hold memorial ceremony for Sgt. Kerstetter tomorrow

ELYRIA — Elyria police officers will honor one of their own, lost in the line of duty three years ago.

Kerstetter

Friday marks the anniversary of Sgt. James Kerstetter’s death. Kerstetter, a 15-year veteran on the police force answered a night call March 15 about a man exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl when he was gunned down after confronting the suspect in his home.

On Friday, police officers, the police chaplain and family and friends of Kerstetter will meet outside of the Elyria Police Department, at the rock memorialized in his memory.

Elyria police Capt. Chris Costantino said while three years have past, the memory of Kerstetter still lives on.

“It certainly hasn’t been any easier,” he said. “Every day you come in to work, you fully expect him to walk in.”

Costantino said the memorial ceremony, which is held every year in respect to the officer, is a reminder of how dangerous the job can be.

“It’s a very dangerous job,” he said. “Sometimes you forget that until something like this happens.”

The memorial ceremony will begin at 3 p.m., and it is open to the public.